Bits, Bursts & Bongos

By Per Hakansson

“The study found that getting parents involved with their children’s learning at home is a more powerful driver of achievement than parents attending P.T.A. and school board meetings, volunteering in classrooms, participating in fund-raising, and showing up at back-to-school nights.”

“How About Better Parents?”, New York Times November 20, 2011

How to Prepare For A New Family Member

Preparing for the arrival of a new family member is like taking a basic survival course; focus on the needs that will ensure a well-fed, secure and warm child getting lots of sleep. Here are the bare necessities we found critical:

  1. Childbirth preparation, new-born parenting, CPR classes and hospital tour
  2. Get crib + changing table, infant bath tub, stroller and car seat (have CHP check installation)
  3. Stock up the fridge and freezer with healthy food (weekly delivery)
  4. Get diapers, clothes, bottles and blankets
  5. Find a pediatrician and upgrade insurance

Really not much else you can or need to do. Or like a friend of mine said: The only thing you need the first year is food, diapers and an iPhone. ;)

PS. Learning 5 days into this adventure that education, crib, clothes, blankets, diapers and food (for the adults) is all you need. Once mommy is ready to venture out you also need a stroller. 

#8 - The Expectant Father

I’m running behind on my quest to read 101 Books during 2010 due to really sad excuses… but will soon catch up.

The Expectant Father by Armin Brott and Jennifer Ash was a positive surprise in the sea of low-quality and pushy parenting books. New parenting seems to be the area where we gather all our fears of being inadequate and uneducated, taking any advice given at face value. Even if they come from a 20-something mother whom you share *nothing* with. Just the fact they she’s able to conceive makes her an expert. Bollocks.

The book explains the physiology and some psychology behind being pregnant, the process of delivery et cetera which is very educational. But the best part is the last chapter named Fathering Today, addressing the fact that fatherhood is not nearly valued as much as motherhood in today’s world, especially in the US which tends to be much more conservative and religious than other developed nations.

There is clearly a lot to be done both in re-thinking parenting and design lifestyles where both parents can work and play central roles in their kids lives. This book is an interesting early step but far from where we should be in 2010.